Comments by "Holger P." (@holger_p) on "USA vs. Germany - Christmas Traditions | Feli from Germany" video.

  1. Concerning your self-description as German American, we have to establish, that such third generation people, call themselves Italian German or Turkish German in Germany too. They still have trouble with their identity. Cause they never intended to migrate. The all moved with the intention to go back one day.
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  2. By 'recent' I would understand "in the last 20 years."
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  3. There is nothing "spiritual" in German Christmas. It's more contemplative, you enjoy tranquility.
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  4. You do that family gathering with rituals rather on Thanksgiving. That's about the same rank and completely unknown as a family event in Germany. If at all, it's something with the village community. In reverse, all that arrived from american Thanksgiving in Germany, is the Black Friday Sale. (very recent, just in the last 5 years).
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  5. Just regular Wine from grapes, not cider. Cider is fairly unusual and unknown in Germany, that's more british/swedish/danish - cause they don't have much grapes.
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  6. It's all the same ingredients, just in little different proportions. (And I baked both). Stollen is closer to a Cookie dough, so you can keep it 4-6 months. There is no moisture in it. No Eggs, No Water, No Milk, except very little as a starter for the yeast. By all the butter, it will rather turn rancid than perish.
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  7. But a german would not set the christmas tree much before december 23rd/24th. And we just do the candles without thinking on anything religious. It's just a part of decoration.
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  8. Well the "go to hell" phrase is quiet often used in US. ALthough not applied to children.
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  9. It's more a social event, than the dish itself that counts, I guess.
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  10. I wonder, why lighting up a candle will be so much related to the Church. It's the origin, but lost connection long time ago, as entire christmas did.
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  11. So maybe of something like a Beerstein ? That's the same fake german term.
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  12. Lighting candles is not a "big thing" in Germany either. It's more a decoration habit.
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  13. Actually the Germans don't do anything. It's more like calming down, coming to rest. The english word contemplation sounds too scientific, but that's actually what's done.
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